Democratic Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth accused Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett of wanting to criminalize doctors and mothers who participate in the process …
Democratic Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth accused Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett of wanting to criminalize doctors and mothers who participate in the process of in vitro fertilization. The senator’s comments appear to stem from a report in the Guardian linking Barrett to a group that supports criminalizing IVF. The publication reported that Barrett signed a 2006 pro-life statement by the group — a statement that does not specifically mention IVF. It is unclear what Barrett’s personal position on IVF is. “How could you support a Supreme Court nominee who supports those who believe Maile shouldn’t exist,” Duckworth tweeted Thursday evening, referring to her daughter Maile, who was conceived through IVF. “How could you vote for a nominee who supports those who believe that my doctor should be in prison?” Duckworth called on her Republican colleagues to “look within your souls” and “consider whether someone who supports those beliefs is capable of serving as an impartial justice for ALL Americans on the highest court in the land.” The senator, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation, also sent a Friday letter to her colleagues describing her own experiences with IVF and stating that Barrett’s involvement with the group disqualified her from serving on the court. “Assisted reproductive technology (ART), including IVF treatment, has enabled thousands of Americans to safely start families in red and blue states alike,” Duckworth wrote.
